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Jeremy Corbyn Publishes His Full Tax Return, Challenges Theresa May To Do The Same

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has released his 2016-17 tax return details and challenged British Prime Minister Theresa May to do the same.

Corbyn’s total earnings in the year between 2016-17 were £136,762, which is comprised of his £78,697 salary as MP, his £49,191 supplement as leader of the opposition and income from two pensions. He paid a total of £48,079.80 in tax.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has also released his full tax return. For a total income of £87,353 – includes his salary and a small amount of interest from savings in a credit union – he has paid £24,099.20 in tax.

“I have again published my full tax return,” McDonnell said. “I have done this every year as shadow chancellor because I believe if you aspire to be in charge of the nation’s finances then you should be as open and transparent about your own income as possible.

“It is right that people in high office are subject to a high degree of scrutiny and I call on the prime minister and chancellor to follow suit and publish their tax returns in full.”

Urging PM Theresa May, Chancellor Philip Hammond and the Tories to publish their own tax return, Corbyn has claimed party leaders must be “open and honest” about their earnings and tax returns in order to maintain people’s trust.

Since her 2016 Conservative leadership race, May has refused to publish the details of her financial affairs, which has been drawing attention from the media and the public. In the year 2014-15, she had earned £112,426, aside from £5,419 in dividends and £617 in interest. £685 was given to charity.

May has said that it is up to every individual MP to decide whether they wish to publish their financial information or not.

Philip Hammond, the chancellor, has downright declined to detail his earnings and tax returns.

The 68-year-old Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said: “Tax avoidance and evasion deprive our public services of tens of billions of pounds every year and will only be tackled if we have the political will to do it. We cannot expect the public to trust us as party leaders if we are not prepared to be open and honest about our own tax arrangements.”